The Passion of the Christ

This review was originally posted on March 1, 2004 on my old blog page Thoughts of the Day. With the movie being released on DVD today I thought it was a good idea to post it again. My thoughts of the movie have not changed, if anything, because of my faith, it has only deepened.

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

On Saturday evening I went to see The Passion of the Christ with my friend Megan. After all the hype, hoopla, the denouncements and devotions I felt that I was prepared for the graphic violence. However, I was not ready for how I would feel while watching Mary’s heartbreak over the brutal treatment of her son. Some of the most deeply felt emotions were from Mary (played with sensitivity by Maia Morgenstern). I wept when she saw a bloody Jesus stumble and fall from exhaustion on his way to his death. A flashback scene showed Mary running to pick up and comfort her son when the toddler fell while playing. What mother could not empathize with Mary’s fear and helplessness?

The films violence is ruthless and unrelenting. The scourging of Jesus seemed endless. There were moments when I wanted to cry out and plead for them to stop. Equally brutal is the carrying of the cross, with Christ’s repeated falls and whipping, and the placement of him on the cross, with the nailing of his hands and feet. Around me I heard moviegoers gasp and cry when Jesus was whipped, spat upon and ridiculed. My friend Megan and I were among those who wept.

Mel Gibson has said that he believes the violence is necessary for a full understanding of the sacrifice. And Gibson is right - the horror and enormity of Christ’s sacrifice has never been more clear. Though moments of gore made me cringe and occasionally turn away, the over-all effect on me was gripping, deeply moving and thought-provoking.

What give this story a more ancient feel to it is the way Gibson has the characters talking in ways they actually may have talked, in ancient Aramaic and Latin (with subtitles) and the darkly vivid cinematography.

Is this movie anti-Semitic? I don’t believe so. Most of the characters came off looking bad: the politician who washes his hands of the crucifixion; the Roman soldiers who mercilessly beat Jesus; the unfaithful disciple who denies him when he needs him most and the Jewish leaders.

In my opinion this is a most impressive piece of work by a determined and talented filmmaker. I applaud Mel Gibson!

Memorable X-Files Quote

It's been said that fear of the unknown is an irrational response to the excesses of the imagination. But our fear of the everyday, of the lurking stranger and the sound of footfalls on the stairs, the fear of violent death and the primitive impulse to survive, are as frightening as any X-File, as real as the acceptance that it could happen to you. ~ Fox Mulder, The X-Files

MEMORABLE MOVIE QUOTE

Every man dies. Not every man really lives. ~ William Wallace (Mel Gibson) From the movie Braveheart

Memorable Movie Quote from Charade (1963)

Regina Lampert (Audrey Hepburn): I already know an awful lot of people and until one of them dies I couldn't possibly meet anyone else.
Peter Joshua (Cary Grant): Well, if anyone goes on the critical list, let me know.

Another Memorable X-File Quote

I've seen life on this planet, Scully, and that's precisely why I'm looking elsewhere. ~ Fox Mulder, The X-Files

Alien Vs. Predator

Why?

Synopsis: The iconic monsters from the competing intergalactic franchises wage war against each other the first time, here on Earth. The discovery of an ancient pyramid buried in Antarctica sends a team of scientists and adventurers to the frozen continent where they make a terrifying discovery: the two alien races are engaged in an ultimate battle, and humans have become the bait.

No matter who wins...we lose.

I am a urge Alien fan. The first movie was a classic, Aliens was also a classic - loved the fact that Sigourney Weaver kicked butt in it, Alien 3 I could have done without, I was rather pissed off that they killed Nute and Hicks off, Alien Resurrection: Some pretty good moments, Sigourney Weaver - excellent as always, Winona Ryder as an android - pretty good twist and Ron Pearlman - he’s always fun to watch. As for the Predator movies the first one was awesome but I never saw Predator 2, never cared to.

I knew that it was only a matter of time before Hollywood would pit these two alien races together in a movie. I haven’t made up my mind about seeing this movie. There’s something about spending a kings ransom for a movie that only runs 1 hour and twenty-seven minutes. What I will probably do is wait for it to come to the $1 show and see it there, at least I’ll get the "big" screen effect.

In the meantime, click here to vote on who you think will win. I’m voting for Predator, only because he’s a hunter.

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK

Plot Outline: Five years after the end of Pitch Black, the wanted criminal Riddick is a hunted man. Riddick arrives in Helion Prime and finds himself against the invading Necromongers, an army that plans to convert or kill all humans.

Last night I went to see The Chronicles of Riddick starring Vin Diesel. Science Fiction fans may have seen a little film called Pitch Black a few years ago. I did not see Pitch Black so I entered this film with little knowledge of what to expect.

Chronicles is not a bad film, but it could have been so much more. Although the story had potential, something was missing. I can't quite put my finger on it, maybe it was that the story and various elements in it needed a little more explaining - like who the Elementals are, the origins of the Furion and Necromonger race, the nature of the Underverse, etc. I’d like to know more about Riddick, what was he like before he became a wanted criminal. Hopefully there will be a third installment, so I can find out.

Riddick, our anti-hero, captures our attention with his cool self-assured presence, always one step ahead, vulnerable to nothing (except maybe his interactions with his Pitch Black 'friends'). I felt that Vin Diesel did a decent job portraying Riddick. I have read criticisms of his acting ability, but the truth is, none of us really go to a Vin Diesel film for his classically trained acting ability or his elegant screen presence. You know what you're going to get from Vin Diesel, he can say one liners, doesn’t take himself too seriously, and can use his body, he is well suited for this roles.

No doubt Dame Judi Dench was cast to lend a certain "element" to the Elemental being she plays and she does that admirably. I read somewhere that Vin Diesel asked her to be in the movie himself.

What can I say about Karl Urban, of Lord of the Ring fame (he played Eomer). He has a great face, great voice and a great presence. His role as Vaako wasn’t very well developed, but he pulls it off nonetheless.

Thandie Newton was sublime as the villainous spouse to Karl Urban’s Vaako.

The greatest strength of this movie was in it's visual impact, both in set/costume design and cinematography. The pace was just right, not a lot of slow moments and the action sequences were fun to watch.

All I can say is see this movie and take it for what it is, a science fiction epic. Don't try to analyze the story, just let yourself be taken by the stunning visuals, landscapes, design, and ambiance. Even if you don't like it the first time, try it a second time. Once you see it as it is you'll have found a film to revisit from time to time.

Closing note: If you don’t wish to spend a small fortune seeing it in a theater than wait for the DVD to come out. It is definitely DVD worthy.

Memorable X-Files Quote

Life is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable because all you get back is another box of chocolates. So your stuck with this indefinable whipped mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while there's a Peanut Butter Cup or an English Toffee. But they're gone too fast and the taste is...fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits filled with hardened jelly and teeth - shattering nuts. And if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you got left is an empty box... filled with useless brown paper wrappers. ~ The Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-Files

GRADING THE MOVIES

How many times have you taken the kids to a movie only to find out too late that the material in the movie wasn’t suitable for the entire family? That has happened to me in the past. When Amanda and I went to see the movie 50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler, I found myself trying to explain several scenes in the movie to my 11 year old daughter.

The average movie review may not provide enough information to help parents decide whether a particular film is appropriate for their youngster(s) or family. I highly recommend "Grading the Movies" on the Internet as a source of family-friendly reviews. Each movie review begins with a "report card" that assigns an overall letter grade to the film, along with additional grades assessing violence, sex, language, and drug references. This website also grades video games and pop music.

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village

Yesterday I went to see the movie The Village and initially I felt a big letdown. I was expecting to see a movie about a small town, frightened by mystical spirits in the nearby woods. But half way through the film I realized this wasn't the case. In an attempt to try and conceal the plot, the previews made us form our concept before the movie began. I must admit my own preconceptions about what I was hoping to see and what actually unfolded disappointed me. But after leaving and replaying the movie in my mind I really began to like the story. In fact, I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD so I can add it to my M. Night Shyamalan collection.

I really don’t want to give away too much of the plot here. All that I will say is The Village is a really compelling story and will keep you thinking for days to come. The characters are enthralling, the love story is idealistic and the twist is what is nagging at the very back of your mind since you saw the first shot of the trees and sky. M. Night Shyamalan's plot is brilliant and his vision is great. Not to mention the amazing performance from Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron Howard’s daughter!).

When I was leaving the theater I heard several people say to each other that the movie "sucked." Those who dislike the movie use only the surface of the film to do so, rather than going deep into the writing style and the cinematography. If you went into this movie expecting to be scared out of your seat or to be overwhelmed with special effects then yes, you would be disappointed. This movie has substance, it is definitely a thoughtful movie.

Don't listen to others about how the movie "sucked" or to me for that matter. See the movie for yourself and develop you own opinion about it. Just remember, if you're expecting to turn your brain off and just ride some rollercoaster ride, The Village may not be the movie for you. Go see Alien Vs. Predator (which starts this week) instead.